The Rest Is Classified 91. JFK vs the CIA: Killing Castro (Ep 2)
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Oct 14, 2025 The hosts delve into JFK's hesitant engagement with the CIA's plans to invade Cuba, revealing the creeping urgency behind the operation. They discuss the flawed assumptions the CIA made about Cuban support and the Pentagon's warnings about the need for a larger force. A critical twist comes with JFK's directive to tone down the operation's spectacle, sparking debates on its risks. They also explore an intriguing parallel plot involving mafia-assisted attempts to assassinate Castro, uncovering the complexities and miscalculations that led to a disaster.
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Cuba Becomes Kennedy’s Top Priority
- JFK quickly made Cuba his top foreign-policy priority and leaned on the CIA for covert action.
- Kennedy approved many covert programs and saw CIA operatives as adventurous partners.
Operation Drove Intelligence, Not The Other Way
- CIA operations and analysts were siloed, producing plans that ignored sober intelligence about Castro's strength.
- Policymakers had already committed to regime change, forcing operations to fit policy rather than evidence.
Happy Valley Training Troubles
- Training camps like 'Happy Valley' were primitive and demoralizing, causing resignations among recruits.
- CIA relaxed selection standards to refill ranks, adding many inexperienced men to Brigade 2506.
